Youth make bears filled with love and wishes

Vaughan Weekly
February 5, 2014   
By Angela Gismondi

Children facing life-threatening medical conditions were given the opportunity to forget their worries for a few hours at the Build-A-Bear Workshop in Vaughan Saturday.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day Build-A-Bear Workshop and Children’s Wish came together in an effort to put smiles on the faces of children dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Wish children  and their families were invited to Build-A-Bear at Vaughan Mills to make a furry friend to celebrate their wishes which have come true. This was part of the “A Million Hearts, A Million Wishes, A Million Ways to Help” national campaign.

“We are celebrating that their wishes have come true,” said Natasha Fieldman, manager of resource development for Children’s Wish. ”Fifty bears will also be donated to wish children who are waiting for their wishes to be granted. We really appreciate that Build-A-Bear is giving back to the community.”

Alexandra was thrilled to make her new teddy bear who she called Dancer because she loves to dance.

“It’s been an awesome day I’m having a great time,” said Alexandra.

Alexandra recently had her wish come true. She went to see her favourite show, Dancing With the Stars, live and had a chance to meet her favourite dancers and celebrities.

In addition to having the wish children make their bears Saturday, the first 50 Build-A-Bear Workshop guests were also invited to make a Stuffed with Hugs bear for free. The bears were donated to Children’s Wish.

Furthermore, from now until March 31, Canadian locations will be offering special purple satin hearts available for $1 to support the foundation.

Each year, thousands of Canadian children between the ages of three and 17 are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Since 1984, The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada has worked tirelessly to grant exceptional wishes to over 18,000 children and their families. Over 600 children in Ontario are waiting to have their wishes granted, Fieldman explained.

“Every penny counts in delivering those wishes to children,” she said. “Events like this support our mission.”